Health

Cancer Mortality Following Treatment for Adult Hyperthyroidism

Article Abstract:

Radioactive iodine appears to be a safe treatment for hyperthyroidism even when taken long-term. Hyperthyroidism is characterized by excessive blood levels of thyroid hormones. It is usually treated with drugs, surgery or radioactive iodine, but long-term treatment is believed to raise the risk of cancer. A review of 35,593 hyperthyroid patients treated between 1946 and 1964 found that the number of cancer deaths overall was similar to that in the general population. Patients treated with drugs had a slightly increased risk of cancer and those treated with radioactive iodine had an increased risk of thyroid cancer.

Publisher:American Medical AssociationPublication Name:JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical AssociationSubject:HealthISSN:0098-7484Year:1998

Risk factors, Cancer

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Public Comment:&nbsp (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Type the code shown:

Show my email publicly:

Radioiodine for Hyperthyroidism Where Do We Stand After 50 Years?

Article Abstract:

Radioactive iodine is probably the most cost-effective treatment for hyperthyroidism. This common condition is caused by an excess of thyroid hormones. Treatments include drugs, surgery and radioactive iodine. Many patients are reluctant to take radioactive iodine because of concerns of an increased risk of cancer. However, a 1998 report on a 20-year follow-up of more than 35,000 patients for hyperthyroidism found no increased cancer mortality rates among these patients when compared to the general population. There was a small risk of thyroid cancer in these patients, but thyroid cancer is relatively benign.

Author: Cooper, David S.

Publisher:American Medical AssociationPublication Name:JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical AssociationSubject:HealthISSN:0098-7484Year:1998

Editorial

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Public Comment:&nbsp (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Type the code shown:

Show my email publicly:

Thyroid function and mortality in patients treated for hyperthyroidism

Article Abstract:

A study is conducted to determine whether radioiodine treatment is associated with increased mortality and also the influences of mild thyroid dysfunction and the development of overt hypothyroidism treated with throxine (T4). It is concluded that patients treated with radioiodine for hyperthyroidism had increased mortality vs age- and period-specific mortality in England and Wales, a finding no longer evident during T4 therapy.